But before we dive into the numbers, we need to point out that many organizations and governments don’t make a distinction between the terms expatriate and immigrant. For this reason, the numbers are usually lumped together.
Now, if you want to get your hands on some fresh data, read on!
What Is the Exact Number of Expats by Country?
Country | Population | % of Expat Population | Number of Expats |
Argentina | 45,195,774 | 5.05% | 2,282,387 |
25,499,884 | 30.14% | 7,685,665 | |
Austria | 9,006,398 | 19.30% | 1,738,235 |
Bahrain | 1,701,575 | 55.01% | 936,036 |
Bangladesh | 164,689,383 | 1.28% | 2,108,024 |
Belgium | 11,589,623 | 17.30% | 2,005,005 |
Brazil | 212,559,417 | 0.51% | 1,084,053 |
Bulgaria | 6,948,445 | 2.65% | 184,134 |
37,742,154 | 21.33% | 8,050,401 | |
Chile | 19,116,201 | 8.61% | 1,645,905 |
China | 1,439,323,776 | 0.07% | 1,007,527 |
Colombia | 50,882,891 | 3.74% | 1,903,020 |
Croatia | 4,105,267 | 12.86% | 527,937 |
Cyprus | 1,207,359 | 15.77% | 190,401 |
Czech Republic | 10,708,981 | 5.05% | 540,804 |
Denmark | 5,792,202 | 12.39% | 717,654 |
Egypt | 102,334,404 | 0.53% | 542,372 |
Estonia | 1,326,535 | 15.02% | 199,246 |
Finland | 5,540,720 | 6.97% | 386,188 |
France | 65,273,511 | 13.06% | 8,524,721 |
Germany | 83,783,942 | 18.81% | 15,759,759 |
Greece | 10,423,054 | 12.86% | 1,340,405 |
Hungary | 9,660,351 | 6.05% | 584,451 |
1,380,000,000 | 0.35% | 4,830,000 | |
Iran | 83,992,949 | 3.33% | 2,796,965 |
4,937,786 | 17.64% | 871,025 | |
Israel | 8,655,535 | 22.57% | 1,953,554 |
Italy | 60,461,826 | 10.56% | 6,384,769 |
126,476,461 | 2.19% | 2,769,834 | |
Kazakhstan | 18,776,707 | 19.88% | 3,732,809 |
Latvia | 1,886,198 | 12.69% | 239,359 |
Lithuania | 2,722,289 | 5.33% | 145,098 |
Mexico | 128,932,753 | 0.93% | 1,199,075 |
Montenegro | 628,066 | 11.30% | 70,971 |
4,822,233 | 28.65% | 1,381,570 | |
Nigeria | 206,139,589 | 0.63% | 1,298,679 |
Norway | 5,421,241 | 15.72% | 852,219 |
109,581,078 | 0.21% | 230,120 | |
Poland | 37,846,611 | 2.16% | 817,487 |
Portugal | 10,196,709 | 9.83% | 1,002,336 |
Saudi Arabia | 34,813,871 | 38.65% | 13,455,561 |
Slovakia | 5,459,642 | 3.61% | 197,093 |
Slovenia | 2,078,938 | 13.37% | 277,954 |
59,308,690 | 4.82% | 2,858,679 | |
South Korea | 51,269,185 | 3.37% | 1,727,772 |
Spain | 46,754,778 | 14.63% | 6,840,224 |
Sweden | 10,099,265 | 19.84% | 2,003,694 |
Thailand | 69,799,978 | 5.20% | 3,629,599 |
The Netherlands | 17,134,872 | 13.76% | 2,357,758 |
Turkey | 84,339,067 | 7.18% | 6,055,545 |
UAE | 9,890,402 | 88.13% | 8,716,411 |
67,886,011 | 13.79% | 9,361,481 | |
USA | 331,002,651 | 15.28% | 50,577,205 |
(William Russell – The World Expat Index)
Important Data on Expats by Country – Within and Without
Observing expat data from country to country shows that certain nations vary significantly in this area. This difference refers to both the number of expats currently residing within their borders and the number of a country’s citizens living outside them.
Bahrain has more than 900,000 expats within its borders.
Bahrain is just one step behind the United Arab Emirates, among the countries with the highest expat population. In fact, 55.01% of the population is comprised of expatriates (around 936,100 people).
The most common reason behind this number are the lucrative employment opportunities offered to residents.
(William Russell – The World Expat Index)
There are half a million Australian expats living abroad.
The expats living in Australia are the happiest, according to the Word Expat Index, with a score of 9.37 out of 10. As far as Australian expats are concerned, the expatriate statistics from the International Migrant Stock Report show that there are currently 527,255 Australians living outside the country.
(William Russell – The World Expat Index, U.N. International Migrant Stock Report)
Expats within Norway can hope for an average of $53,518 per year.
Of all the popular expat countries, Norway has the highest average annual salary, roughly 564,994 Norwegian Krone through the current exchange rate. So that’s something the 844,503 expats living there can look forward to if they work hard and get lucky.
(William Russell – The World Expat Index)
Roughly 5.6 million Italians live outside of Italy.
The 5,652,080 expats make up 9.5% of its population (59.2 million people). These numbers, which came from 2021, marked a 3% increase in expats when compared to 2020. Currently, the number has declined, most likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, roughly 15,000 American expats live in Italy at the moment.
(Infomigrants, HousingAnywhere)
Thailand boasts the lowest employment rate at 1.4%.
Unemployment rates in Thailand are incredibly low, with only 977,200 of its 70 million citizens being unemployed. That means that the 3,629,600 expats living within its borders most likely won’t have to worry about finding work.
(William Russell – The World Expat Index)
Roughly 9% of the total population of Canada lives abroad.
The American diaspora living in Canada amounts to over one million people. On the other hand, around 2.8 million Canadians call the rest of the world home. However, some estimates state that this number can be almost doubled. Namely, 5.5 million is the higher number, if you include those born abroad, to Canadian citizens.
(The Canadian Expat, Canadian Statistics)
Covid slowed down French expatriation by 5.1%.
In December of 2020, there were 1,685,638 officially registered French expatriates, 5.1% less than a year earlier. Furthermore, French organizations claim that there are roughly 3.5 million French expats around the world, since not all of them choose to register their status.
(International Citizens Group)
Around 1.36 million Japanese expats are scattered around the globe.
Of this number, 529,808 are permanent residents, most often because of marriage and other family-related reasons. Furthermore, the number of Japanese expats by country differs significantly. Of all the Japanese expats, a third (426,354) live in the United States, followed by China, which houses 111,769, and Australia, housing 97,532.
(Mainichi)
Conclusion
Overall, the number of expats is on the rise. This can be an exciting opportunity for many people, but it can also be difficult to adjust to a new culture and way of life. If you decide to take the plunge, remember to do your research, and prepare thoroughly.
FAQ
Which country has the most expats?
How many American expats are there?
What country has the largest population of American expats?
Sources:
Aleksandar stands out as a seasoned financial writer and editor, bringing over seven years of dedicated experience in the realms of remittance and finance. His exceptional skill lies in demystifying complex financial and legal subjects, making them accessible and engaging for a diverse audience. Aleksandar's unique training under licensed court interpreters has honed his ability to adeptly navigate and eloquently convey the nuances of finance and law.
I'm Aleksandar Hrubenja, a seasoned financial writer and editor with over seven years of dedicated experience in the realms of remittance and finance. My expertise lies in demystifying complex financial and legal subjects, making them accessible and engaging for a diverse audience. With unique training under licensed court interpreters, I have honed my ability to adeptly navigate and eloquently convey the nuances of finance and law.
Now, let's delve into the concepts used in the provided article:
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Expatriate vs. Immigrant Distinction:
- The article highlights the challenge of differentiating between expatriates and immigrants, as many organizations and governments tend to lump the terms together in their statistics. This lack of distinction can impact the accuracy of expatriate population numbers.
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Global Expat Statistics:
- The article presents a comprehensive list of countries with their respective populations, the percentage of expatriate populations, and the actual number of expatriates in each country. These statistics give a broad overview of the scale and distribution of expatriates worldwide.
-
Country-Specific Expat Insights:
- Specific countries are highlighted with additional information:
- Bahrain is noted for having a significant expatriate population (55.01% of its population), driven by lucrative employment opportunities.
- Australia has over half a million expats living abroad, with high reported happiness among them.
- Norway boasts the highest average annual salary for expats, providing a financial incentive for the 844,503 expats living there.
- Italy has a substantial expatriate population (9.5% of its population), with a recent increase in numbers, likely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Specific countries are highlighted with additional information:
-
Thailand's Low Unemployment Rate:
- Thailand is highlighted for its exceptionally low unemployment rate (1.4%), which is beneficial for the 3,629,600 expats residing within its borders.
-
Canadian Expatriate Statistics:
- Canada has a significant expatriate population, with over one million American expats living there and around 2.8 million Canadians living abroad. Some estimates suggest the number could be almost doubled, reaching 5.5 million, when including those born abroad to Canadian citizens.
-
Impact of COVID-19 on French Expatriation:
- The article mentions a 5.1% decline in French expatriation in December 2020, attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
Japanese Expatriate Distribution:
- Japan has approximately 1.36 million expats globally, with 529,808 being permanent residents. The distribution of Japanese expats varies by country, with a significant portion residing in the United States.
-
Conclusion and Advice:
- The article concludes by noting the overall rise in the number of expatriates, presenting both exciting opportunities and challenges. It advises individuals considering expatriation to conduct thorough research and preparation due to the adjustments required in adapting to a new culture and way of life.
-
FAQ and Sources:
- The article includes a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section, addressing queries about the country with the most expats, the number of American expats, and the country with the largest population of American expats. Additionally, various sources, including the U.N. International Migrant Stock Report, The World Expat Index, and others, are cited to substantiate the provided information.
